Untitled

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 139, 24 February 1874, Page 2

Call. —The second call of ss. per share on shares held under the Poverty Bay Petroleum Company, is payable to day at the Company’s office. Road Board Advertizing.—We have noticed our contemporary’s remarks in this matter, and shall reply to his distortions in due season. Garrick Club.—We would remind our readers that a Dramatic Performance is to be given by the Members of this Club in the Music Hall to-night, a fact—the bare mention of which —is sufficient to draw •“ a house.” Mr. Helyar’s Rams.—We regret to learn that Mr. Helyar has lost one of two rams recently imported by him from England. Through some negligence the animals got at a sack of dry oats, and ate until obliged to succumb. One died on Saturday, but Mr. Meldrum has hopes of the other surviving. The rams are reported to have been worth £IOU each to the owner. Robertson and Co.—This firm held their maiden sale on Saturday last, at Kelly’s Yards, Gisborne. Mr. Robertson evidently is not new to ths duties of the rostrum ; and ns a knight of the hammer made a favorable impression. Like “ George Robbins of ancient renown,” he has a ready command of wit, and a fund of humor calculated to infuse spirit into his audience. The business of an Auctioneer in a new and partially-settled district, requires much patient working up. and if there is any man likely to succeed in that line of business it is Mr. Robertson. Road Board.—The members of the Road Board met at the Waerenga-a-hika Hotel on Saturday last. The principal business done was the inspection of the Ormond Reserve for the purpose of ascertaining the advisability of prospecting for road metal there. Instructions were given to the Engineer to start with a party at once to either sink a shaft, or make a drive as he may think advisable, and to report to the Board at its next meeting. The Muhung i Block has long been looked upon as a likely place for metal, and we hope, as it is contiguous to a good dray road to town, that the report will be favorable.

The Pretty Jane.—The beginning of the service of our Auckland Steam Company in providing steam accommodation for this district is not at all satisfact >ry. We were willing to overlook the irregularities inseparable from the initiation of a new service, with a limited number of boats; we were contented to learn that a steamer of some kind was likely to take up the running between this and Auckland and Napier ; but we did not expect that the Company intended to place us at the great disadvantage of having to further wait while the Superintendent and his Executive are being transported up and down the Coast, and that the Pretty Jane’s detention is a matter of official necessity. Even that, however, might have been swallowed, under the exceptional circumstances of his Honor’s visit, but on being told at the Agent’s office yesterday morning, on our enquiry for the purpose of making the matter public, that they knew nothing whatever of the Pretty Jane, either when she was coming or where she was going, it is getting beyond a joke. No arrangement has been made for advertizing her calls, and consequently no one knows anything about her. The Company, it is true, has no subsidy as yet for this Coast service, but it expects to get one.; and it has shareholders in Poverty Bay, whom it may be as well to conciliate, anil endeavor to keep as much faith as possible with.

Building Society. — Last Wednesday evening a public meeting was held in the Court House, Gisborne, for the purpose of ascertaining the advisability of forming a Building Society in the Township of Gisborne. A goodly number of settlers attended, and great interest was manifested in the proceedings. A resolution was unanimously passed, affirming the proposition that it was desirable to form such a Society, the basis of which is to be the rules of Nos. 2 and 3 Societies in Napier. Also, one appointing a provisional Committee to canvass for the probable amount of support likely to be given to such a Society. The rules of the Napier Societies are in circulation in the district, and can be had on application at our office, and we would recommend their steady perusal bv all who are desirous of aiding in the matter. The main principle is that of money. The shares are valued at £2O 16s, which amount is made up by a payment of 2s per week per share for four years, when the Society must terminate. On a shareholder realizing any shares, he is charged 8 per cent, per annum on the sum realized ; and is credited with 6 per cent, per annum on each complete sum of £2 10s paid on each share. It is calculated that at least 200 shares are required to start the Society, which would at that rate only allow two shares per for. night to be appropriated ; but there is not the slightest doubt that many more shares would be taken up so soon as the working of it actually commences. The Committee are to report shortly on the success attending their efforts ; and we shall be glad to receive the names at our office of*my that are desirous of being enrolled. The Wellington Evening Post of the 10th says : —The amount of sickness in town continues very serious, and the mortality has been large beyond precedent during the last few weeks. The Hospital is crowde dto excess, chiefly with patients suffering from the prevalent feverish complaints and diarrhoea. No fewer than 56 deaths hsve been registered in the Wellington district already since the Ist of January, a period of less than six weeks.